Ricky Gervais Stand Up Comedy Gigs, Shows, and Tours in London, UK and Europe
- comedyinyoureye
- Jan 1
- 7 min read
Ricky Gervais Stand Up Comedy Gigs, Shows, and Tours in London, UK and Europe
Is Ricky Gervais touring in London, the UK and Europe?
Yes, Ricky Gervais is actively touring his new show, "Mortality," across the UK and Europe in 2026. The comedian, known for his acerbic wit and refusal to bow to "cancel culture," has confirmed a series of dates that include intimate warm-up shows in London as well as major arena performances across the continent.
Ricky Gervais's touring strategy often involves a mix of massive venues and smaller, more exclusive theatres where he refines his material. For early 2026, he has locked in a residency at the Leicester Square Theatre in London, a venue he frequently uses to polish his work before taking it to global stages.
Confirmed 2026 UK & Europe Tour Dates:
Date | City | Country | Venue |
6 Jan 2026 | London | UK | Leicester Square Theatre |
7 Jan 2026 | London | UK | Leicester Square Theatre |
12 Jan 2026 | London | UK | Leicester Square Theatre |
13 Jan 2026 | London | UK | Leicester Square Theatre |
25-29 Mar 2026 | UK/EU | Various | Various Arenas (TBC) |
Note: The "Mortality" tour is expected to expand further into 2026 with additional European dates likely to be announced for Germany, Scandinavia, and beyond, following his successful 2025 run.
Where to buy Ricky Gervais' Stand Up Comedy tickets?
Who else is touring in the UK in 2026?
Want to see what other big names are touring in the UK in 2026 then check out our article on The Top 15 UK Stand Up Comedy Tours in 2026
If you are in London waiting for the creator of The Office to return to the stage, you don't need to wait that long for a world-class laugh. Comedy in Your Eye in Camden Town is widely considered one of the best independent comedy clubs in the capital.
Located in the iconic Camden Eye pub right opposite Camden Town station, we host TV-level comedians and rising stars every week. It is an authentic, intimate room where you can feel the energy of live performance just feet away from the mic—an experience you can't get in an arena. Best of all, our tickets start at just £3, and we offer incredible value deals like £6 for entry and a drink. It’s the perfect way to get your stand-up fix while you wait for Ricky Gervais to bring his unique brand of cynicism back to London.
Where to buy Comedy in Your Eye tickets?
Who is Ricky Gervais?
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, and writer who stands as one of the most influential figures in 21st-century comedy. Born on 25 June 1961 in Reading, Berkshire, he grew up in the suburb of Whitley. The youngest of four children, his upbringing was working-class but filled with humour; he often credits his family's dry wit as the foundation for his comedic voice. His father was a labourer and his mother a housewife, and their no-nonsense approach to life deeply informed his worldview.
Before finding fame in comedy, Gervais had a brief and somewhat surprising stint as a pop star in the 1980s new wave duo Seona Dancing. Although they failed to chart significantly in the UK, they became a cult hit in the Philippines—a fact Gervais now finds hilarious. He later worked in radio management at Xfm, where he hired an assistant named Stephen Merchant. This partnership would prove to be the most significant of his career.
In 2001, Gervais and Merchant created The Office, a mockumentary sitcom set in a mundane paper merchant's office in Slough. Gervais starred as David Brent, a delusional, cringe-inducing middle manager who desperately wanted to be liked. The show was a slow burn initially but exploded into a global phenomenon, reshaping the landscape of television comedy. It introduced the "cringe comedy" genre to a mass audience and spawned an American adaptation that ran for nine seasons.
Since then, Gervais has become a global superstar. He has created and starred in multiple hit series, including Extras, Derek, and the massively popular Netflix drama-comedy After Life. He is also a record-breaking stand-up comedian, selling out arenas worldwide and securing lucrative deals with streaming giants. Despite his immense wealth and fame, he maintains a somewhat reclusive personal life, living in Hampstead with his long-term partner, author Jane Fallon, and their beloved cats. He is a vocal atheist and an ardent animal rights activist, using his platform to campaign against animal cruelty and trophy hunting.
Ricky Gervais's comedy style
Ricky Gervais’s comedy style is a potent mix of observational humour, atheistic rationalism, and deliberate provocation. He is the master of "saying the unsayable." His stand-up routine is often characterised by an aggressive defence of free speech and a refusal to acknowledge taboo subjects. He operates on the principle that the subject of a joke is not necessarily the target of the joke, a nuance he frequently explains to his audience—sometimes within the set itself.
His delivery is distinct: he often adopts an arrogant, self-aggrandising persona on stage, holding a can of beer and laughing at his own jokes. This "arrogant fool" character allows him to say outrageous things while maintaining a layer of ironic detachment. He tackles heavy subjects—death, cancer, the Holocaust, trans rights, and religion—with a bluntness that can be shocking. However, beneath the shock value, there is often a philosophical undercurrent. He challenges the audience to examine why they find certain words or topics offensive, arguing that offence is "taken, not given."
In recent years, his style has evolved to become more directly "anti-woke." He frequently targets what he perceives as the hypocrisy of modern progressive culture, celebrity virtue signalling, and identity politics. This has made him a polarising figure; to his fans, he is a brave truth-teller fighting against censorship, while his critics view him as punching down at marginalised groups. Regardless of where one stands, his technical mastery of the stand-up form is undeniable. He constructs jokes with surgical precision, often using a "pull-back and reveal" structure where he leads the audience down a dark path before revealing a surprisingly logical, if twisted, conclusion.
Ricky Gervais's comedy career
Ricky Gervais's career is a testament to the power of a singular, brilliant idea. After years of working in relative obscurity in radio and as an events manager, the success of The Office catapulted him to stardom in his 40s. The show won numerous BAFTAs and Golden Globes, making him the first Brit to win a Golden Globe in over two decades. This success opened the doors to Hollywood.
He followed The Office with Extras (2005), a series that satirised the celebrity culture he was now a part of, featuring A-list guest stars like David Bowie and Robert De Niro demeaning themselves for laughs. He then moved into stand-up, releasing a series of highly successful DVDs: Animals, Politics, Fame, and Science. These tours established him as a premier live act, capable of selling out theatres solely on his name.
His relationship with the Golden Globes is legendary. He hosted the ceremony five times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2020), each time delivering a roasting of the Hollywood elite that was so savage it became global news. He insulted the organisers, the nominees, and the industry itself, sipping beer and reminding the room that "nobody cares about movies anymore." These performances solidified his reputation as a fearless iconoclast who refused to play the Hollywood game.
In the streaming era, Gervais has found a new home on Netflix. His series After Life, which explores grief and depression through a comedic lens, became the most-watched British comedy in the world. He has also released several stand-up specials on the platform, including Humanity, SuperNature, and Armageddon. Armageddon broke the Guinness World Record for the highest-grossing single stand-up performance ever, a testament to his unparalleled commercial drawing power. Entering 2026, he shows no signs of slowing down, with his Mortality tour set to be another blockbuster event.
What is Ricky Gervais's net worth
Ricky Gervais is one of the wealthiest comedians in history, with an estimated net worth of approximately $160 million to $170 million (£130m+). This vast fortune is primarily derived from the syndication rights to The Office. As the creator, he owns the backend rights, meaning he earns a percentage of the profits every time the show—and its massive US adaptation—is aired or streamed.
This passive income stream is supplemented by eight-figure deals with Netflix for his stand-up specials and series, as well as his lucrative touring revenue.
How old is Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais was born on 25 June 1961. He is currently 64 years old (as of 2025/2026).
Where does Ricky Gervais live
Ricky Gervais lives primarily in Hampstead, North London, in a mansion valued at over £10 million. He also owns a riverside property in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and has previously owned apartments in New York City. He famously enjoys a quiet domestic life, often seen walking around Hampstead Heath.
Does Ricky Gervais have children?
No, Ricky Gervais does not have children. He and his partner Jane Fallon decided early in their relationship not to have kids. He often jokes about this in his stand-up, citing the loss of freedom and the state of the world as reasons, while also acknowledging that he would likely be an overly anxious parent.
Does Ricky Gervais have a wife?
Ricky Gervais is not married, but he has been with his partner, the best-selling author Jane Fallon, since 1982. They met at University College London and have been together for over 40 years. They have stated that they see no point in getting married as they are committed to each other without the need for a ceremony.
Who is Ricky Gervais's partner
His partner is Jane Fallon, a successful television producer and novelist. She is the author of numerous best-selling books such as Getting Rid of Matthew and Got You Back. She is often the subject of Gervais's affectionate teasing on social media but remains a private figure compared to her famous partner.
How tall is Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais is approximately 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall.
Is Ricky Gervais vegetarian/vegan?
Yes, Ricky Gervais is vegan. He transitioned from vegetarianism to veganism a few years ago. He is a passionate animal rights activist and often speaks out against animal cruelty. In 2025, he admitted that he felt "hypocritical" supporting animal charities while still eating animal products, which motivated his full transition.
Is Ricky Gervais religious?
No, Ricky Gervais is a staunch atheist. His lack of belief is a central theme in his comedy and public persona. He frequently debates religion on Twitter (now X) and in his stand-up, arguing for secularism, science, and rational thought. He famously closes his shows by poking fun at the concept of an afterlife, a theme central to his Mortality tour.
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